Evaluating Dripper-Plants Spacing for Improving Tomato Yield and Water Productivity under the Drip-Irrigation System in the Sudanian Climate in Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Burkina Faso, surface drip irrigation is promoted as a water-saving technique to overcome the decline of agricultural water through the increase of water productivity. However, there is little proof up to now about the suitable dripper-plant spacing optimizing water uptake for high productivity. A field trial was undertaken to assess the effects of the dripper-plant spacing in improving yield and water productivity. The design was complete randomized blocs in four replications with the dripper-plant spacing of 0, 5, 10, and 15 cm. It is shown that placing the dripper 15 cm away from the plant resulted in higher water distribution, fruit size, and productivity. The increase of 91%, 131%, 51%, and 11% was registered for wetted area, fruit length, fruit diameter, and fruit weight, respectively. Yield and water productivity increased up to 143%. Implementing the system of drip irrigation at the dripper-plant spacing of 15 cm should be suggested for improving both yield and water productivity in the dry areas. The distance between the dripper and the plant is an important component for designing and implementing a drip-irrigation system for a specific crop on a specific soil since the crop water uptake and productivity depend on this parameter. Up to now, there is no evidence of suitable distance for fruits, more precisely for tomatoes. Technicians are implementing the drip system and farmers are still producing based on an old belief suggesting that the dripper should be as close as possible to the plant. The present study tested different distances (0, 5, 10, and 15 cm) between the dripper and the plant in an experimental field to identify the optimal spacing. Based on the obtained data, this paper suggests that the spacing of 15 cm between dripper and plant is adapted for improving water productivity and yield, and it should be adopted to optimize the efficiency of the drip-irrigation system for field-grown tomatoes.